The Internet Virus--Another issue

[Dennis L. Mumaugh]

In article <17849 at glacier.STANFORD.EDU> jbn at glacier.UUCP (John B. Nagle) writes:
    In article <7715 at boring.cwi.nl> jack at cwi.nl (Jack Jansen) writes:

        When a serious defect in a car is found the  manufacturer
        usually  calls  all cars with the defect back and repairs
        them for free.

    Federal law requires this.  Under heavy pressure  from  Ralph
    Nader, Congress, during the 1960s, required mandatory recalls
    for safety-related defects and for  certain  other  problems.
    The manufacturers often initiate "voluntary" recalls as well,
    but  this  is  to  head  off  action  by  the  Department  of
    Transportation.  Interestingly,  the  manufacturers  are  not
    required to inform vehicle owners of the recall; they can let
    the Government do that.


    The day may come when we see such legislation for computers.
    
There are major problems with software  bug  fixes  and  recalls.
The  main  difference  between software and computers on one hand
and cars on the other is that someone knows exactly who owns each
car  by  serial number.  That is the DMV has a list.  In theory a
list of all defective vehicles could  be  supplied  and  somewhat
later  a  mailing  list returned by each of the 54 DMV's. [54 you
say?  Yes 50 states, DC, PR, VI and Guam.  I ignore CZ and non-US
jurisdictions.]  Of course most car manuafacturers keep their own
private list [also good for sending mail on new models, etc.]

Consider  computers.  These  days  the  computer  is  sold  by  a
distributor  or  a  Value  Added  Reseller (VAR) or by your local
computer shop.  The manufacturer probably doesn't have a foggiest
idea  who  has  it.  Similarly  for  the  software -- its sold in
shrink wrapped packages at the 7-11 these days  [honest  injun!].
And even if they could track the original purchase, do they track
re-sold computers and software?

Thus the value of the  "warranty  registration"  cards  appliance
manufacuturers  have.  Of course most software warranties are "if
the floppies are bad we'll send a  new  set".  Hence  the  reason
major vendors offer support for their products at a fee.  But how
many PC or even UNIX(R) owners pay for support?

-- 
=Dennis L. Mumaugh
 Lisle, IL       ...!{att,lll-crg}!cuuxb!dlm  OR cuuxb!dlm at arpa.att.com